Cardiff post beautiful Sol Bamba tribute with plans put in place for game against Leeds

Cardiff City post a beautiful tribute to Sol Bamba with plans put in place for the upcoming Championship game against Leeds United.

The player and coach associated with Cardiff City passed away last Saturday at the age of 39, following his admission to a hospital in Turkey, where he had been serving as the technical director for Adanaspor.

Bamba, who previously captained Leeds during his playing career, began at Paris St-Germain and went on to play for the likes of Dunfermline, Hibernian, Leicester, Trabzonspor, Palermo, and Middlesbrough.

He overcome non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021, having undergone chemotherapy treatment. Four months later in May 2021, he announced that he was cancer-free.

However, his wife said shortly after his death that he had cancer for “the last few years”.

On the 30th of August 2024, Bamba fell ill after the Adanaspor match against Manisa F.K. and was rushed into Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital. He died the following day, at the age of 39.

A statement from Adanaspor said: “Our technical director Souleymane Bamba, who fell ill before the match against Manisa on Friday, was taken to hospital and unfortunately lost his battle for life there. Our condolences to his family and our community.”

Forever a Bluebird. 💙 pic.twitter.com/k4GT0KX6jC

— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) September 2, 2024

Cardiff released a statement on the 31st of August, which read: “It is with the deepest sadness that we have learnt this evening about the passing of Club legend, Sol Bamba.

“As a player and coach, Sol’s impact on our football club was immeasurable. He was a hero to all of us, a leader in every dressing room and a true gentleman.

“Our thoughts are with his friends, family and everyone lucky enough to know and love Sol.”

Bamba captained Leeds during his time at Elland Road from 2015 to 2016, the club also paid tribute by saying they were “devastated to learn of the news that former captain Sol Bamba has passed away”.

Leeds added: “Rest in peace, Sol, you will be forever in our hearts.”

Since then, it’s been confirmed that Cardiff and Leeds are planning a tribute to remember him on Saturday, the 21st of September.

“Discussions are already underway to pay tribute to Sol at the Leeds game,” said Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman, per BBC.

“They are willing and happy to go along with us. There are preparations taking place for this.”

Twitter users reacted as Cardiff post a beautiful Sol Bamba tribute with plans put in place for game against Leeds…

@QPRBSJ: RIP Sol. A real legend of the EFL and an inspiration to many. Never played for my QPR but I was indeed honoured to see him play live (that goal at the start brought back forgotten memories)

@SD8716: Epitomised everything it means to represent Cardiff. One of a select few who you could never question their heart and fight. Cardiff meant everything to him and Sol meant everything to us. Rip

@RyanCCFC20: Emotional watch that 😢💔. Retire the number 22 for his honour 💙

@I_Hopkins1: why does it always happen to the good guys? what a man… what a player… what a leader🔵

@CCFCWelshRossy: @CardiffCityFC do the right thing. Retire his number 22 he was loved as much as whitts was by every Cardiff fan. I still think you should retire emiliano salas also out of respect for what happened 💙

@connorccfc26: Didn’t have to get me all emotional again Cardiff 🥲💙

@MattCorp3: Rest in peace Sol 💙 : Let’s hope the game against Leeds can be a proper send off for the big man. Will be missed massively. Let’s hope the club can either retire the shirt number or have a banner at the back of the canton to remember him by. 💙

@cardiffian64: Beautiful tribute , can’t stop watching it , great memories of a fantastic player and person who was loved by all fans , he loved us I know but we loved him more. Cardiff City legend 💔😢💙💙RIP

@p78w: Brilliant memories. Need to make sure a fitting tribute is planned for the Leeds game, that includes them also as a key player for them as well.

@svendcarr17: was waiting for a video montage, what a man, what a player.. so lucky to have had him at our club. 💙

@AndrewP_1927: Absolutely heartbreaking watch, but necessary. Sol was a giant of a man, clearly loved everywhere he went. Says alot about him as a person. Always a legend to us here at city, and across so many corners of the footballing world. Feel for his family, and friends #AlwaysABluebird

@NigelBlues: Beautiful tribute of incredible memories of a truly special man. ❤️

@fairgrievegavin: Lovely Tribute to a Great Person. I was lucky to watch his career start at East End Park with @officialdafc. Would be nice to see both teams in a friendly in his memory and retire his number.

@James_TA_Davies: There’s only one Sol Bamba 💙

@EnglandMustLose: RIP 🦢🤍💙🔵

@CardiffLad: Retire his shirt!

@DanCCFC_: The whole era Sol was here just has such happy memories associated with it. Forever grateful for everything he did for us both on and off the field 💙

@VFTNinian: Beautiful tribute to a beautiful Sol.

@Jaisinghhhh: Beautiful tribute for a wonderful human being 💙